Running News Daily

Eric Hamer won the Rock N Roll Denver Half Marathon clocking 1:08:08

More than 7,500 registered participants from age 12 to 81 took to the beautiful downtown of the Mile-High City this weekend to run in the 10th running of the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll Denver Half Marathon. With a continued focus on great music within the Denver community, participants of all athletic levels enjoyed the sights and sounds of Colorado’s capital city.

In the half marathon, Eric Hamer (Fort Collins, Colo.) won the race with his first-place effort clocking a time of 1:08:08. Bryn Morales (Boulder, Colo.) was second finishing in 1:08:36. Dan Feeney (Boulder, Colorado) came in third place with a time of 1:08:45.

Alexis Wilbert (Colorado Springs, Colo.) was the women’s champion with a final time of 1:19:09 with Mackenzie Caldwell (Boulder, Colo.) next behind her at 1:19:16. Amanda Scott (Boulder, Colo.) rounded out the podium in 1:19:39.

The best-in-class running event kicked off on Saturday morning with a 5K presented by Brooks starting and finishing at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver. The half marathon and 10K took place on Sunday, with runners from all 50 states and 17 countries, regions and territories receiving a first-class tour of the busy and refreshing downtown Denver.

Participants started on Civic Center Park headed north on Bannock St. toward 14th Street where participants circled the LoDo neighborhood, made their way down North Capitol Hill and through City Park before crossing the finish line back at Civic Center Park.

Elite runners and fast times aside, Sunday’s races were all about the party atmosphere. Several local bands, including Colorado’s own The Williams Brothers Band, Silver And Smoke and 78 Bombs performed live on band stages along the route.

The musically themed road race celebrated the day’s accomplishments with the sounds of Canadian-based indie-funk band, Bombargo taking to the main stage of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Concert Series at the finish line festival held at Civic Center Park which was free and open to the public.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series® is the world’s largest running series taking part in over 30 destination events around the world every year. Established in 1998, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series simple idea of making running fun has transformed both the U.S. and global running landscape by infusing the course with live bands, cheer teams and entertaining water stations, creating a block-party atmosphere for participants and spectators alike. Focused on running, music and community, race weekend kicks off with a free Health & Fitness Expo showcasing the latest in running gear, sports apparel, health and nutritional information and much more.

Events culminate with an entertaining finish-line festival featuring some of the biggest names in music, with past performances including Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, O.A.R. Aloe Blacc, Pitbull, Flo Rida, The Band Perry, Fitz and the Tantrums, the Goo Goo Dolls and Bret Michaels.